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‘Welcome Home, Hip’: Tragically Hip fans begin to roll into Kingston

If this is a goodbye, Kingstonians want to make sure the send off won't be forgotten. Tens of thousands of fans including, the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are expected to be there.

People walk around with The Tragically Hip t-shirts in downtown Kingston on Saturday. The Tragically Hip will play the last concert of the "Man Machine Poem" tour in Kingston. (Lars Hagberg/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Fans line up for their final chance to purchase Tragically Hip concert merchandise. (Lars Hagberg / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

People without tickets for the show claim their spot by the projector in Springer Market square behind City hall in Kingston, Ont., to get in on the action at The Hip's bittersweet final concert. (Lars Hagberg / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

People walk in front of big posters welcoming The Tragically Hip home. (Lars Hagberg / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

By David FriendThe Canadian Press

Sat., Aug. 20, 2016

KINGSTON, ONT.—Don’t call it Kingston because today this is Hip-town.

At least that’s how it felt Saturday afternoon on the historic streets of the north-eastern Ontario city as hordes of music fans prepared for a massive tribute to the Tragically Hip.

The hometown rockers are winding into the city for the final stop on their “Man Machine Poem” tour, which many believe will also be an emotional farewell. Lead singer Gord Downie revealed earlier this year that he’s battling terminal brain cancer.

If this is goodbye, then Kingstonians want to make sure this send off won’t soon be forgotten.

Reminders of the prolific Canadian band canvas the city’s downtown. Local restaurants wiped away daily specials on their sandwich boards and put up nods to the Hip’s fans.

Even the public transit system pulled out all the stops with a “Welcome Home, Hip” message that flashed across the bus route sign. Rides are free to help ease the onslaught of visitor traffic.

LIVE: Hip take over Kingston

Locals couldn’t stop talking about the Hip either.

On the sidewalks it’s one of the most commonly overheard conversations as people discuss their plans for the big show, which is being televised across the country.

“It’s the hometown people that keep them going,” said Kingston native Chris Harris.

People sign messages for Gord Downie outside a store in downtown Kingston on Saturday. (Lars Hagberg/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Early in the afternoon he was passing around a marker pen so visitors could write notes to the Hip on a wall outside the city’s market square.

“The Tragically Hip has been the soundtrack to the best years of my life,” read a message signed by Natalie from Prince Edward Island.

“You guys were my first concert,” another unsigned note said. “Honored to be here for your last.”

Fans line up for their final chance to purchase Tragically Hip concert merchandise. (Lars Hagberg)

Tonight’s finale brings the Hip back to where their storied musical journey began in the early 1980s. Tens of thousands of fans — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau among them — are expected to be there.

Those with tickets to the sold-out show will be inside the 6,700-seat Rogers K-Rock Centre. Others will gather a few blocks away at Springer Market Square, an outdoor space next to city hall that’s streaming the show on a giant screen.

People wait in line to buy merchandise for The Tragically Hip in downtown Kingston. (Lars Hagberg/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Even more are expected to watch a live broadcast of the concert airing across the country on the CBC.

Tickets for the “Man Machine Poem” tour sold out almost immediately after they went on sale in June — leaving many fans disappointed they’d miss a final chance to see the Hip live.

People without tickets for the show claim their spot by the projector in Springer Market square behind City hall in Kingston, Ont., to get in on the action at The Hip's bittersweet final concert. (Lars Hagberg)

That led the CBC to lock in the one-time broadcast rights for the Kingston show.

It will air starting at 8:30 p.m. ET on the main CBC network and various other platforms such as CBC Radio One, the CBC website and its YouTube and Facebook channels.

Going to the final Tragically Hip show in Kingston, Ont. Saturday? If so, please send us your best pictures of the concert for a chance to be published in the Toronto Star and online.

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